Field trial of three different Plasmodium vivax-detecting rapid diagnostic tests with and without evaporative cool box storage in Afghanistan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Accurate parasitological diagnosis of malaria is essential for targeting treatment where more than one species coexist. In this study, three rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) (AccessBio CareStart (CSPfPan), CareStart PfPv (CSPfPv) and Standard Diagnostics Bioline (SDBPfPv)) were evaluated for their ability to detect natural <it>Plasmodium vivax </it>infections in a basic clinic setting. The potential for locally made evaporative cooling boxes (ECB) to protect the tests from heat damage in high summer temperatures was also investigated.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Venous blood was drawn from <it>P. vivax </it>positive patients in Jalalabad, Afghanistan and tested against a panel of six RDTs. The panel comprised two of each test type; one group was stored at room temperature and the other in an ECB. RDT results were evaluated against a consensus gold standard based on two double-read reference slides and PCR. The sensitivity, specificity and a measure of global performance for each test were determined and stratified by parasitaemia level and storage condition.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In total, 306 patients were recruited, of which 284 were positive for <it>P. vivax</it>, one for <it>Plasmodium malariae </it>and none for <it>Plasmodium falciparum</it>; 21 were negative. All three RDTs were specific for malaria. The sensitivity and global performance index for each test were as follows: CSPfPan [98.6%, 95.1%], CSPfPv [91.9%, 90.5%] and SDBPfPv [96.5%, 82.9%], respectively. CSPfPv was 16% less sensitive to a parasitaemia below 5,000/μL. Room temperature storage of SDBPfPv led to a high proportion of invalid results (17%), which reduced to 10% in the ECB. Throughout the testing period, the ECB maintained ~8°C reduction over ambient temperatures and never exceeded 30°C.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Of the three RDTs, the CSPfPan test was the most consistent and reliable, rendering it appropriate for this <it>P. vivax </it>predominant region. The CSPfPv test proved unsuitable owing to its reduced sensitivity at a parasitaemia below 5,000/μL (affecting 43% of study samples). Although the SDBPfPv device was more sensitive than the CSPfPv test, its invalid rate was unacceptably high. ECB storage reduced the proportion of invalid results for the SDBPfPv test, but surprisingly had no impact on RDT sensitivity at low parasitaemia.</p

Human malarial disease: a consequence of inflammatory cytokine release

Malaria causes an acute systemic human disease that bears many similarities, both clinically and mechanistically, to those caused by bacteria, rickettsia, and viruses. Over the past few decades, a literature has emerged that argues for most of the pathology seen in all of these infectious diseases being explained by activation of the inflammatory system, with the balance between the pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines being tipped towards the onset of systemic inflammation. Although not often expressed in energy terms, there is, when reduced to biochemical essentials, wide agreement that infection with falciparum malaria is often fatal because mitochondria are unable to generate enough ATP to maintain normal cellular function. Most, however, would contend that this largely occurs because sequestered parasitized red cells prevent sufficient oxygen getting to where it is needed. This review considers the evidence that an equally or more important way ATP deficency arises in malaria, as well as these other infectious diseases, is an inability of mitochondria, through the effects of inflammatory cytokines on their function, to utilise available oxygen. This activity of these cytokines, plus their capacity to control the pathways through which oxygen supply to mitochondria are restricted (particularly through directing sequestration and driving anaemia), combine to make falciparum malaria primarily an inflammatory cytokine-driven disease

Immunoregulation in human malaria: the challenge of understanding asymptomatic infection

Asymptomatic Plasmodium infection carriers represent a major threat to malaria control worldwide as they are silent natural reservoirs and do not seek medical care. There are no standard criteria for asymptomaticPlasmodium infection; therefore, its diagnosis relies on the presence of the parasite during a specific period of symptomless infection. The antiparasitic immune response can result in reducedPlasmodium sp. load with control of disease manifestations, which leads to asymptomatic infection. Both the innate and adaptive immune responses seem to play major roles in asymptomatic Plasmodiuminfection; T regulatory cell activity (through the production of interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor-β) and B-cells (with a broad antibody response) both play prominent roles. Furthermore, molecules involved in the haem detoxification pathway (such as haptoglobin and haeme oxygenase-1) and iron metabolism (ferritin and activated c-Jun N-terminal kinase) have emerged in recent years as potential biomarkers and thus are helping to unravel the immune response underlying asymptomatic Plasmodium infection. The acquisition of large data sets and the use of robust statistical tools, including network analysis, associated with well-designed malaria studies will likely help elucidate the immune mechanisms responsible for asymptomatic infection

Jayavanth Shenoy: Análisis Escalable de Registros Médicos

Descripción de esta presentación: Esta presentación fue hecha por Jayavanth Shenoy. El título de la presentación es: "Análisis Escalable de Registros Médicos " - Descripción de los seminarios web del CIC: Cada mes, el equipo del Centro de Información de COVID (junto con el Northeast Big Data Innovation Hub) reúne a un grupo de investigadores que estudian diversos aspectos de la pandemia actual, para compartir sus investigaciones y responder preguntas de nuestra comunidad. Los eventos muestran los esfuerzos continuos de los científicos en la lucha contra la COVID-19, incluyendo oportunidades de colaboración

Jayavanth Shenoy: Scaled Medical Records Analysis

This presentation was made by Jayavanth Shenoy, Onai. The presentation’s title is: “Scaled Medical Records Analysis.” -- Every month, the COVID Information Commons Team (along with the Northeast Big Data Innovation Hub) brings together a group of researchers studying wide-ranging aspects of the current pandemic, to share their research and answer questions from our community. The events showcase scientists' ongoing efforts in the fight against COVID-19, including opportunities for collaboration

Jayavanth Shenoy: Analyse des dossiers médicaux à l'échelle

Cette présentation a été faite par Jayavanth Shenoy. Le titre de la présentation est: “Analyse des dossiers médicaux à l'échelle." -- Chaque mois, l'équipe COVID Information Commons (avec le Northeast Big Data Innovation Hub) rassemble un groupe de chercheurs étudiant de nombreux aspects de la pandémie actuelle, pour partager leurs recherches et répondre aux questions de notre communauté. Ces événements mettent en valeur les efforts continus des scientifiques dans la lutte contre le COVID-19, notamment les opportunités de collaboration

Jayavanth Shenoy: स्केल्ड मेडिकल रिकॉर्ड्स विश्लेषण

यह प्रस्तुति जयवंत शेनॉय, ओनाई द्वारा बनाई गई थी। प्रस्तुति का शीर्षक है: "स्केल्ड मेडिकल रिकॉर्ड्स विश्लेषण।" -- हर महीने, COVID सूचना कॉमन्स टीम (नॉर्थईस्ट बिग डेटा इनोवेशन हब के सहयोग से) वर्तमान महामारी के विभिन्न पहलुओं का अध्ययन करने वाले शोधकर्ताओं के एक समूह को अपने शोध को साझा करने और हमारे समुदाय के सवालों के जवाब देने के लिए एक साथ लाती है। ये कार्यक्रम COVID-19 के खिलाफ लड़ाई में वैज्ञानिकों के चल रहे प्रयासों को प्रदर्शित करते हैं, जिसमें सहयोग के अवसर भी शामिल हैं

Anatomical Variations in the lobes and fissures of the lungs

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Ceftazidime and Vancomycin Sensitive Beta Hemolytic Staphylococcus aureus

ABSTRACT Gram positive cocci, Staphylococcus aureus is a persistent nosocomial bacteria causing wide spectrum of infections in human. Its resistance to various groups of antibiotics is a worldwide public health concern. In view of this, a prospective study was undertaken to detect the microbial spectrum, hemolytic assay and antibiotic susceptibility of nosocomial bacteria. Air samples from different locations were collected by exposure plate technique and surface samples were collected by wiping the floor, wall, bed railing, patient table and curtain with sterile moist swabs. Collected samples were subjected to standard isolation and characterization procedures. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from the collected samples. For hemolytic assay, Staphylococcus aureus culture was streaked on freshly prepared blood agar and incubated overnight. Hemolytic assay revealed beta hemolytic Staphylococcus aureus. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed on Staphylococcus aureus according to CLSI (2007) against gentamicin (120µg), vancomycin (30µg), erythromycin (15µg) tetracycline (30µg), ampicillin (10µg), amoxicillin (10µg) doxycycline (30µg), bacitracin (10µg) and ceftazidime (30µg). Staphylococcus aureus was sensitive to vancomycin and ceftazidime. Continuous education will generate better understanding about the usage of vancomycin and ceftazidime as first line antibiotic therapy to Staphylococcus aureus infection